Hearings for asylum seekers charged over July 2013 riot continues, two convictions

Hearings for asylum seekers charged over July 2013 riot continues, two convictions

One of the seven
groups of asylum seekers accused of riot and unlawful assembly
during a disturbance at the Nauru Regional Processing Centre in
July 2013 have applied for an adjournment part way through
proceedings to seek additional counsel to assist in the
case.

In yesterday's hearing
(Monday 2 June), defence lawyer John Rabuku submitted an
application for adjournment to allow Australian lawyers to assist
in the case as per his clients'
requests.

Mr Rabuku explains
while he is able to represent his clients, he is also duty bound to
address their concern.

Resident Magistrate
Ropate Cabealawa questioned the timing of the
application.

Lawyer for the
Director of Public Prosecutions office Livai Sovau objected to the
application also questioning the timing of the application and
highlighted it was something that could have been addressed earlier
in the proceedings.

His Honour Cabealawa
nonetheless allowed an adjournment until Thursday 5 June at 10am to
allow submissions from both
sides.

Also the same day
(Thursday 5 June) sentencing for two asylum seekers convicted on 16
May of riot and unlawful assembly will also be handed
down.

Of the three accused,
one was convicted of one count of riot, the second with two counts
of riot and unlawful assembly while the third accused was acquitted
of one count of unlawful
assembly.

The two convicted
persons have been remanded in custody at the Nauru Correctional
Centre while they await sentencing this week, Thursday 5
June.

The 63 asylum seekers
that remain charged with offences arising from the July 2013 at the
RPC have been divided into seven groups according to ethnicity and
language groups to ensure more efficient use of translators and the
Courts' time.

A non-publication
order put in place by former magistrate Peter Law restricting the
identities of the asylum seekers to be revealed, remains in
force.